Posted 13 October 2017
It’s that time of year again – the weather’s getting colder,
the nights are drawing in and of course, the pesky common cold seems to be
everywhere!
Many people think that the terms ‘cold’ and ‘flu’ are interchangeable,
or that the flu is just a bad cold. It’s not surprising given that both share
certain symptoms and tend to appear at the same time of year. However,
different viruses are responsible for the common cold versus the flu, and the
latter can end up being more serious for particular groups of people. (1)
What are the
differences between cold and flu?
The common cold can be caused by a number of different
viruses, including the rhinovirus and the coronavirus. Flu (short for
influenza) is caused by influenza viruses. Despite the many similarities, there
are some differences in symptoms and onset time that may help you to determine
whether you are suffering from a cold or the flu. Firstly, colds tend to creep
up on you gradually over a couple of days, whereas the flu will make a person
feel unwell very quickly. Additionally, a blocked, runny nose and sore throat
is more likely to be associated with a cold, and bodily aches and pains occur
more commonly with the flu. People can feel very unwell during a bout of the
flu, often so much that they are bedridden. Conversely, a person will usually
feel well enough to go to work and get on with their everyday activities whilst
they have a cold. (1)
Will I need to see my
GP?
For most people, a cold or the flu will clear up on its own
within a couple of weeks and no trip to the GP will be needed. Resting
(especially for flu), drinking plenty of water and taking painkillers such as
paracetamol to ease pain and fever should help to alleviate symptoms until you
recover. However, there are certain groups of people who are more likely to
suffer complications including pneumonia and bronchitis whilst suffering with
the flu. If you fall into one of the following categories, see your GP if you
think you have the flu:
65 or older
diabetic
pregnant
serious heart problems
chest problems such as asthma
severe kidney or liver disease
weakened immune system
previous stroke or mini stroke
Your GP may consider prescribing oseltamivir or zanamivir,
which are antiviral medicines. (1,2)
You can also receive a free flu jab if you are in one of
these at risk groups. Care home residents and carers are also entitled. Speak
to your GP or pharmacist to book an appointment. (3)
Please don’t beg your GP for antibiotics! Antibiotics are
used to treat bacterial infections, whereas colds and flu are viral infections,
so they won’t help to ease your symptoms. Furthermore, overusing antibiotics
contributes to antibiotic resistance, which means if we are not careful with
the antibiotics we have today, they may become useless against the bacteria
they are supposed to target, making bacterial infections untreatable in future.
Reducing the spread
of colds and flu
When we have a cold or the flu, droplets containing the
virus are released into our surroundings when we cough or sneeze. These
droplets can become airborne and therefore can be breathed in by other people,
infecting them. Droplets may also settle on surfaces, and the virus can infect
others when they touch the surfaces, then touch their nose, mouth or eyes. We
can reduce the spread of these droplets by coughing or sneezing into a tissue,
then throwing the tissue away and washing our hands. Hands should not be used
to cover the nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing as this allows for transfer
of the virus to commonly touched surfaces such as door handles, keyboards, banisters
and even via a handshake! Surfaces should also be cleaned regularly. (1)
Getting a flu jab, particularly if you’re in an at risk
group, will not only protect yourself, but will also help to protect other
people you come into contact with. (1)
For any more information, speak to your local pharmacist or
read more here.
References
National Health Service. Cold or flu? [cited 10
October 2017]. Available from: http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/coldsandflu/Pages/Isitacoldorflu.aspx
- National Health Service. Flu – Treatment [cited
10 October 2017]. Available from: http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Flu/Pages/Treatment.aspx
- National Health Service. Who should have the flu
jab? [cited 10 October 2017]. Available from: http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/vaccinations/Pages/who-should-have-flu-vaccine.aspx
Author: Gabby Gallagher MPharm
Medically reviewed by: Superintendent pharmacist Margaret Hudson BSc(Hons)MRPharmS 13/10/17
Posted in Men's Health, Womens health